Boots and Paws Website
The Boots and Paws website brings you information on places to visit, walks, accommodation and photography from around the UK and Ireland.
View some excellent featured photography, walks and tourist information for places to visit across the UK and Ireland. You can search locations easily on the archive page where you will find the locations indexed by County or Country, or the latest additions can be found on the home page.
Charlie and Buster enjoy their lakeland walks
The about page is where you can find out more about the website and the latest news, or to add your comments about the website, photographs, walks or the places visited see the guestbook page.
When you go on walks your best friend goes too…The Paws Gallery is a place where visitors to the site can email their photos of their favourite pooch. So if your four legged friend has longed for fame on the world wide web, now is your chance.
Boots and Paws website
Natural England Walk Finder
Natural England’s Walking for Health (WfH) encourages you to enjoy your local natural spaces and benefit your health by taking part in health walks.
They are currently the largest national body promoting and setting the standards for led health walks.
Walking for Health aims to encourage people, particularly those who take little exercise, to do regular short walks in their communities. They support over 590 local health walk schemes and you can find your nearest English walk using the online Walk Finder.
Peak District Walking Festivals
March 7, 2010 by admin
Filed under D, Featured Walks, P-Q
Walking through some of the England’s most outstanding scenery is one of the joys of a visit to the Peak District and Derbyshire.
With four separate festivals to choose from and with a wide variety of themes, there’s something to suit all ages and abilities.
The Peak District Walking Festival – April 24 to May 9 2010
The Peak District Walking Festival is one of the largest and most varied festivals in the country, with more than 100 walks led by expert and knowledgeable guides, from National Park Rangers and archaeologists to ecologists and ghost hunting experts! All ages and abilities are catered for and as well as new challenges like rock climbing or caving, you’ll be able to take part in guided cycle rides.
The Peak District’s Historic Border Country Walking Festival – May 15 to 23 2010
The Peak District’s Historic Border Country sits between the Peak District to the west and Sherwood Forest to the east and has some of the best unspoilt and undiscovered countryside, which you’ll be able to explore in the Festival. The programme includes many guided walks to suit all ages and abilities, including the ‘Longest Walk on the Longest Day’ – a 34 mile walk which circumnavigates Chesterfield, keeping the spire in view most of the time.
Footsteps in the Forest: National Forest Walking Festival – May 22 – June 2 2010
Footsteps in the Forest walks offer a great range of short, medium and long guided walks across the varied landscape of The National Forest. Discover canals, rural villages, reservoirs and woodlands and hear fascinating facts about the wildlife and local heritage of this beautiful area. Led by local enthusiasts who are keen to show visitors around the area, there is something for everyone, whatever your interest and abilities.
Autumn Footprints: Amber Valley & Erewash Walking Festival. Sept 11 to 26 2010
Autumn Footprints includes a wide variety of walks from between one and fifteen miles and covers themes such as natural history, local heritage, rivers and canals or towns and villages and map reading. The programme will be available from mid-summer 2010.
Derby Walking Festival – September 18 to October 17 2010
Set in the compact, friendly city of Derby steeped with fascinating history, a vibrant culture and rich heritage providing the perfect setting for this festival.
More information
Order your 2010 Peak Disrtict Walking Festivals Guide.
Peak District and Derbyshire Tourist Board
Crocus Walks
February 25, 2010 by admin
Filed under Featured, Featured Walks
Crocuses naturalise well in grassy areas and February to March is usually the best time to see them. Often planted in great swathes in community parks and church yards, they provide a sea of yellows, purples, creams and mauve to herald the arrival of spring.
Bitts Park Crocuses
Where to see Crocuses
Some of Britains’ stately homes and gardens have wonderful displays of crocus and are well worth the visit.
Here are a few open days or places to see Crocuses that we are aware of.
If we have missed any then please get in touch with the details via our contact us form.
Please send us your pictures of your crocus walk, as we are sure there must be many more out there.
If you are a member of the NGS (National Garden Scheme) and open your garden for displays of crocus and spring flowers, then please let us know.
Kew Gardens Crocus Carpet – creates a spectacular show of white and purple between Victoria Gate and King William’s Temple in March.
Sky Blue Pasture is lively, safe and vibrant place in the heart of Chelmsford.
University of Leicester Botanic Garden – Leicestershire
Lacock Abbey Gardens – Wiltshire
Temple Newsham Park and Gardens – Leeds
Great Dixter House – Snowdrop and Crocus weekend, East Sussex
The Garden House – Devon
Bitts Park – Carlisle
Many Old churches and graveyards are also the ideal place to see crocuses
Breakthrough Breast Cancer – Crocus Walks - help raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The perfect opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, meet up with friends and get some exercise – and all in a good cause.
Free Guided Walks in the North York Moors
February 25, 2010 by admin
Filed under Featured, Featured Walks, N
A guided walk looking at items of folklore, history and local interest in the moorland village of Goathland on Wednesday 3 March is the first in a series of free guided walks organised by the North York Moors National Park Authority.
A guided walk has many benefits
Ranging from one to five miles, the walks take place the first Sunday and Wednesday of every month from March through to November.
Following Natural England’s ‘Walking the way to Health’ guidelines, the walks are in three levels from a gentle stroll on easy terrain some of which are suitable for wheelchairs and buggies to longer walks of a more challenging nature. They are an ideal introduction to the health benefits of walking and – with lots of information on the local area, its history, nature, wildlife and conservation – are also a great opportunity to learn something new about the North York Moors.
Forthcoming walks include
- Ramble along woodland paths and the scenic Murk Esk to find out about the industrial heritage of Grosmont (7 April)
- Stroll along the old railway line to explore the remains of the alum works at Ravenscar (2 June)
- Wildlife walk through Guisborough Forest (4 July).
Don Burluraux, Health Walks Co-ordinator for the NHS Middlesbrough and NHS Redcar and Cleveland area said:
“Health Walks do not only improve your physical fitness, help control your weight and make you feel good, they are also beneficial for your mental well-being, reducing stress and helping you to sleep better. Walking in a Health Walk group is a great way to start walking and to stay motivated – you’ll socialise and make new friends and discover new places in your neighbourhood and surrounding countryside.”
Ian Sewell, who has long-term health issues, has been on several health walks in the North York Moors National Park, he said:
“My first walk, through Raincliffe Woods, made me feel as if a weight had been lifted from off my shoulders. I felt extremely calm and yet energised at the same time. I certainly slept at the end of the day! Being surrounded by the natural world was very peaceful and calming to the mind and to the spirit as well as giving exercise to the body. I would recommend the walks to everyone, whether young or old.”
All walk leaders have received health and safety training. Places on the walks are limited; to book a place call 01439 772738.
Further information on forthcoming walks can be found at www.visitthemoors.co.uk/events and also in the North York Moors Out and About Guide which will be available from National Park and Tourist Information Centres from early March
More information on all National Parks can be found at www.nationalparks.gov.uk
